Why do people think being cold is automatically more an issue than being too hot?

[MotorGreenGrass]

I started a thread about the heating and my lodger.

Automatically people state they can’t be cold…. At the same time, neither can I be too hot?

So surely a consensus can be meet?

I HATE being cold!!

I feel the cold more than most people and even on a warm day I’m sat in a coat shivering.

But being too hot is way worse than being too cold overall.

When you’re hot there’s only so much you can do - strip off and have a cold shower which isn’t that effective in the long run.

Whereas when you’re cold you can put extra layers of clothes on and blankets as well as exercise to warm you up.

I'd rather be cold than hot. When I'm too hot I feel unwell. When I'm cold I do jumping jacks.

I'm allergic to heat so cold all the way for me

Being hot is far better than cold and easily remedied by taking off layers, opening a window, going outside (unless it's the annual 4 day heatwave)
and when you are naked and still too hot? and then you get a hot flash?

If you're too cold put clothes on and have a cup of tea. It's better for the planet

I hate both feelings! I had heat exhaustion once and thought i would die but being so cold kills too. I have a very narrow operating range. But on balance, i can think of more ways to warm up than cool down.

Being too hot is worse than being too cold.

If your cold you can add layers, there's only so many layers you can take off when at work if too hot.

Used to work with someone who put the heating on 30! Then would complain of being to hot in summer when it was 24 degrees out! Grrr. Although we worked in the same building, she would wear a thin blouse in the middle of winter and her job was pretty inactive. Mine involved PPE and moving around a lot - I sweated buckets in the middle of winter. It was ridiculous.

We have this issue every time my mum visits. She's always freezing cold, even when our house is a normal temperature (thermostat sits at 17 degrees and we're all warm enough)

17 degrees is warm enough when you are moving about, but not when you are sitting still. Do you provide a blanket or a throw for your mum @Blueuggboots?

If you're too cold put clothes on and have a cup of tea. It's better for the planet

How many clothes do you propose people carry to work with them? Or wear in the house? And how do you propose making hot drinks when you’re in a meeting and the air con is blasting?

Honestly, this ‘put a jumper on and have a hot drink’ advice it utterly pointless and just shows that some people have literally no idea what it’s like to feel cold all the time (or for most of the time).

The trouble is with 'put more clothes on' is that there's a point where it doesn't work. After 5 layers, I'm struggling to fit more on. And it's not exactly how I want to spend my free time: unable to move because I'm padded up like the Michelin man.

Hot drinks don't stay hot for long.

I cannot stand been too hot as in stuffy room as feel as if I cannot breathe and can get my sinus going. I put heat on at 18 for 2 hours evening and have blanket or robe. Do not like heating on in bedroom where I sleep. Can they not turn the radiator down in their bedroom so not so hot. You will have to reach a compromise if this is in your living room so you are not too cold and they are not too hot as both equally not nice. Least you can wrap up if cold..

@Bitbloweyoutthere

The trouble is with 'put more clothes on' is that there's a point where it doesn't work. After 5 layers, I'm struggling to fit more on. And it's not exactly how I want to spend my free time: unable to move because I'm padded up like the Michelin man.

Hot drinks don't stay hot for long.

If you're not warm with five layers on inside a house in the UK then there's something wrong with your circulation tbh. Maybe very far north in Scotland or in the Nordic countries but fluffy socks, long sleeves tops and jumpers should really be sufficient.

Oh there definitely is. No one else in my house gets as cold as i do. And i grew up in a house with no central heating until i was 10. But there's nothing I can do about it. Luckily, I can't keep still. Dread to think how bad it would be if I ever sat still for long. Like I said earlier, I have reynauds, which is triggered v easily but not remedied v easily. Long, hot shower works- but is expensive.

Obviously it's usually easier to warm up than cool down.

But in terms of feeling, being cold is FAR worse for me than being hot. Hot is uncomfortable sure but being cold feels horrendous, like it's getting right to the heart of you. It HURTS.

I know I'm quite warm blooded but I work with a few people who say they get cold easily but wear ankle grazing trousers and trainer socks so their ankles are bear. Or very thin or unsubstantial dresses. And it's like just wear thicker/ longer socks or get a thicker jumper. Meanwhile I'm wearing a T-shirt I'm coldish but when working I'm more productive if a bit cold as I'm sluggish otherwise

@MinglingFlamingo

I know I'm quite warm blooded but I work with a few people who say they get cold easily but wear ankle grazing trousers and trainer socks so their ankles are bear. Or very thin or unsubstantial dresses. And it's like just wear thicker/ longer socks or get a thicker jumper. Meanwhile I'm wearing a T-shirt I'm coldish but when working I'm more productive if a bit cold as I'm sluggish otherwise

Obviously thin clothes aren’t going to help you warm up - but those of us who feel the cold definitely aren’t wearing thin clothes.

If people are feeling overwhelmed with temperatures in the early twenties then I’d suggest there must be something wrong with your circulation - or health. Being overweight or being menopausal doesn’t help obviously, but feeling like you can’t breathe if the thermostat is set at 22 or 23 is concerning.

Being overweight or being menopausal doesn’t help obviously, but feeling like you can’t breathe if the thermostat is set at 22 or 23 is concerning.
Many people on this thread, myself included have said they are fine with higher temperatures in summer, it's overheated houses they struggle with, the feeling of a lack of fresh air. I am healthy, not menopausal and I have a bmi of 20.

How many clothes do you propose people carry to work with them? Or wear in the house? And how do you propose making hot drinks when you’re in a meeting and the air con is blasting?

as it happens i do know what it's like to feel cold all the time as I'm a person with permanently cold feet and hands. But i have never managed the heat, anything above about 25° is uncomfortable.
However I'm also not daft. I also live in a country where there are minimum standards of warmth in the workplace, and blasting air-con isn't allowed, and neither is cranking up the heat.
If you are permanently too-hot or too-cold in normal room temperatures (can't remember what they are off the top of my head) you have a problem that you have to address yourself first before putting it on everyone else. And should probably get a health check.

Too hot is 100% worse than too cold. There are only so many layers you can take off before you get arrested.

@Svara

Being overweight or being menopausal doesn’t help obviously, but feeling like you can’t breathe if the thermostat is set at 22 or 23 is concerning. Many people on this thread, myself included have said they are fine with higher temperatures in summer, it's overheated houses they struggle with, the feeling of a lack of fresh air. I am healthy, not menopausal and I have a bmi of 20.

Agree - it's never too hot for me in the summer, but I can't stand an overheated house. 22 would definitely give me a headache. I'm not overweight either.

How many times do we actually live or work in temperatures of more than 25 though? Most of the time it’s around 20-22, sometimes cooler - and definitely cooler if you’re working in an office with air con. Then it can be deeply unpleasant (as well as a monumental waste of electricity) - although there are plenty of people who insist on it being on, even though it makes the temperature inside colder than outside, which is rarely hot up here.

IIRC the best room temperature late teens, early twenties - but you need to make sure that’s the actual temperature of each room.

Both being too cold and too hot are bad. The clue is in the word ‘too’. You’re too hot or too cold, so neither are comfortable.

Both are awful and I really suffer in both.

But being too hot is worse for me because I am not able to cool down all. Nothing can help me - except a cooler temperature. I overheat completely and I am unable to function.

At least if its cold, it's possible to get warmer by layering up or whatever. No escape from the heat, unless you have aircon.

My office is often too cold. I waste a lot of time making tea, walking to the toilet to pee the tea out and keep my body moving and taking ages layering back up after the loo. It's miserable and makes my IBS flare up. It's really unproductive.

I deal with the cold better than heat.

Age, medication, etc. I get overheated very easy.

Cold, I can put on layers, a hat, drink a hot drink, jump around to get the blood flowing.

My mum had her place like an oven year around. She'd walk around the house barefoot and short sleeves in winter. Her heating costs were insane.

"We have this issue every time my mum visits.
She's always freezing cold, even when our house is a normal temperature (thermostat sits at 17 degrees and we're all warm enough).

She brings a jumper but complains of being cold CONSTANTLY.

I don't want to sweat my tits off just so she's warm enough?!"

@Blueuggboots your poor mum. It sounds miserable for her. 17 degrees is not warm.